One of our guest speakers was Eric Barger, the founder and director of Take a Stand! Ministries headquartered in the Dallas area. Eric is an authority on the cults, the New Age, and rock music today. From his past as a former drug addict and rock n' roll musician who was deeply involved in the New Age movement, Eric has emerged since he gave his life to Jesus Christ to become one of today's greatest defenders of Christianity in America.

Eric's topic at our conference was "The Truth of Jesus' Divinity" (watch). He did a remarkable job explaining how to debunk the false views that the Jehovah's Witnesses have concerning Jesus.

Debunking the Jehovah's Witness Redefinition of Jesus

Besides Psalm 82, I use Revelation to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses when they show up at my door.

In Revelation 1:8 it says, "I am the Alpha, and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, sayeth the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty." Perfectly translated "Lord God Almighty," this verse is talking about God the Father. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last — God the Father. Verse 17 and 18 says, "Fear not; I am the first and the last." This is the same language right here. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore; and have the keys of hell and of death."

I always ask Jehovah's Witness, "Excuse me, when did God die? It says in Revelation 1 He is the first and the last just like it said a few verses earlier that He is the Alpha and Omega. There is something going on here, right?" So, rather than skipping all over the Bible to prove this, I keep them in the book of Revelation to Chapter 22 where it says, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." That is exactly what we read in chapter 1, right?

"Blessed are they that do my commandments." Then it says, "For outside are left out of the Kingdom are the dogs, the sorcerers, the soothsayers, the adulterers and those that practice iniquity." Right, they are the people left out, about ready to be cast into the Lake of Fire.

So, in the first chapter it talks of the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end, and in the twenty-second chapter it talks of the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. Then we find out who is talking in this last chapter. "I Jesus have sent my angels to testify these things." At this point usually the Jehovah's Witnesses eyes are bugging out. And, I will say, "Okay, either there are two firsts and two lasts, or Jesus and the Father are one." I have had Jehovah's Witnesses literally run away from my door. I am not kidding you.

When I lived in east Dallas, I was about to do a radio interview one afternoon and had 15 minutes to go before I needed to then do a phone interview. Two Jehovah's Witnesses gals came to the front door and I peered out through the peephole. I had shorts on, a t-shirt, and a baseball cap, but I was still going to talk to them. So, I opened the door and I said to them, "I only have a few minutes, but I would like to talk to you." And they said, "We are Bible students and we would love to talk to you, too." I said, "Good, I have been waiting for you." So we began to talk and I asked, "You know I understand what you teach, right?" They didn't think I did, but I went on, "I understand what you teach. Can I show you something?" You kind of want to take control of the situation rather then let them lead. So, I took them to Revelation 1 and we read that, and then I took them to Revelation 22 and we read that.

Jehovah's Witnesses always send a more experienced JW out with a rookie. Well, the more experience gal got the other gal by the hand and said, "We can see we are not getting anywhere with this." She was backing away from my door with this gal by the hand. And I said, "Now, hang on, there is more to this. I want to show you this. You see, Jesus is speaking here. He calls himself the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, just like God the Father does in the first passage." She is backing away, finally they turn around and they are walking away fast. I am walking out my door going, "Wait, wait don't leave now." You know, and it was kind of funny to watch these two ladies trot to the parking lot, because that more experienced JW did not want the other gal to hear. That was what was sad, but that is exactly what happened.

We also have fulfilled prophecy that testifies to Jesus' divinity. Jesus perfectly fulfilled what it says about the Messiah. We have 324 prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible. Over 200 of them have been fulfilled by Jesus' First Coming. He perfectly met the qualifications of the Messiah.

The Resurrection to me is the number one fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Jesus could have fulfilled all the rest of the prophecies, but if He didn't rise from the grave He wasn't the Messiah. We would still be lost. We'd then better find the nearest Jewish synagogue immediately. But, Jesus did raise from the grave. Over 200 prophecies are already fulfilled.

Jesus is the Creator. He is the Savior, the Deliverer, the Master. He is the Healer, the Provider. He is righteous. He is Holy. He is worthy. He is Friend. He is Judge. He is King. He is God. This is exactly who Jesus is. God has exalted his Son and given Him a name which is above of every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow, and every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.

Resource

Defending the Faith June 2010 Conference DVD AlbumGet back to the Word and the absolute essentials of the Christian faith by learning how to defend what you believe in this 6-part conference album!

If you are posting here, then I hope your story is much more than that sad tale as that poor lost soul is still a 'good' JW in his heart, without any mention or indication of ever coming into a saving relationship with the 2nd Person of the Trinity: the Lord Jesus.

A better testimony that I read back in the 70's is "30 Years A Watchtower Slave: Confessions Of A Converted Jehovah's Witness, by William J Schnell.

I have listened to some good testimonies from former JW's who left the JW's and now are born again on a site called "Tower To Truth". The organization puts its members through a lot and holds them in bondage. But is was awesome to hear how the Lord set them free. Thank you for sharing this, as it is something we all could use when they come knocking.

Early in the morning, I received 2 JW (I use to call them Jeroboam's witnesses). By the way, one was an old one and the other was a young one.

In a very slow manner I first showed them the passage where the Roman soldier pierced Jesus' side with a spear (Jn. 19:34). I also explained to them that the Roman soldier was getting sure that the Lord was already dead. Like if I was speaking with a child, I asked them: Who was pierced? They answered: Jesus. Who died on the Cross? Jesus.

Then, I showed them the passage of Zechariah 12:10. Again, I asked them: Who is speaking here? They answered: Jehovah. About whom is He speaking about? About Himself being pierced.

Although I put it in a very understable way, they didn't accept the fact that one Jehovah (Yeshua, the Son) died on the Cross for them.